The Use of Double-Layer Collagen Membrane for the Improvement of Nasal Dorsum Skin Thickness and Texture in Primary Nose Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To place a collagen membrane containing crushed nasal septal cartilage over the nasal dorsum to see how this graft can improve the results of visible postsurgical irregularities in thin skinned patients. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients were treated between 2006 and 2010 (26 males and 31 females) whose ages ranged between 31 and 55 years old. They were divided into group a, defect <1 mm, group b defect between 1 and 2 mm, group c defect >3 mm. These patients presented intraoperative nasal dorsum irregularities that were corrected with 57 cartilage grafts in conjunction with collagen membrane. RESULTS: All of our patients showed an initial over-correction. A dense network of collagen fiber bundles was observed running parallel to the surface of the membrane at the connective tissue-membrane interface. The clinical percentage of volume reabsorption was about 5% after 6 months, measured with clinical pictures and a clinical follow-up. No infection was noted, only 1 patient of dislocation was observed, and 5 patients required some refinements at the long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In the authors' experience the use of bilayered combined cartilage and collagen membrane grafts gives the best aesthetic results with balanced tip projection and dorsum fullness, and avoids thickness and texture modification of the skin above the graft. The use of Bio-gide membrane avoids all problems related to the donor site and shortens surgical time.

Dichotomy of rhinoplasty practice: from the conference floor to the operating room.

Advancements in surgical techniques and improvements in clinical practice inevitably lag behind scientific progress and peer-led opinion. The rapid rise and fall in the popularity of rhinoplasty techniques makes scientific evidence-gathering and education a daunting task. Students of rhinoplasty face a long and steep learning curve, and need to acquire sound analytical tools to critically evaluate both literature contributions and operative reports shown in conferences. Such a complex learning process requires continuous self-examination, and must account for the increasingly sophisticated and intricate wishes of rhinoplasty patients whose desires do not always coincide with what surgeons have been taught and practiced. In contemporary practice, the developing rhinoplasty surgeon must be also familiar with the range of racial features, as the broad variety of nasal anatomies and beauty canons are truly staggering, and one formula does not fit all cases.The complex set of circumstances that lead to disharmony between scientific progress and clinical practice is addressed, and a utilitarian plan to remedy this awkward dichotomy is suggested.

A guide to the assessment and analysis of the rhinoplasty patient.

The science and art of facial analysis have made giant strides in the past 50 years. In addition to excellent technical knowledge about the anatomy of the region and the numerous surgical options available, the rhinoplasty surgeon must demonstrate meticulous care in the planning and execution of this difficult and demanding operation to minimize the real risks posed to the patient and to maximize the likelihood of a successful procedure and of obtaining the ultimate goal: the happy patient. Although imaging and computer analysis have provided a new technological dimension to this process, the surgeon's clinical acumen, technical prowess, and communication skills remain paramount in their importance.

Sleep Apnea in Moderate-Severe Obese Patients.

Obesity induces multiple physiologic changes at the respiratory and circulatory systems level. A study was developed to identify symptoms and signs able to discriminate subjects at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to evaluate the presence of OSA in a population of obese patients referred to the Clinical Nutrition Service of the Luigi Sacco Hospital for weight loss therapy. Twenty-seven obese patients (14 males, 13 females) without neurologic, cardiac, and lung diseases were measured for height, weight, neck, waist, and hip circumference; a sample of venous blood was taken for hematological data; and were given a pulmonary function test, hemogasanalysis, and full-night polysomnography. Statistical analysis were performed using paired and unpaired StudentOs t test, PearsonOs chi square, and Spearmann Rank correlation; the significance level was set at p<0.05. The results showed hemotological values in the normal range and pulmonary function findings were not different from predicted, but expiratory reserve volume (ERV), as expected in obese subjects, was significantly reduced (p<0.001). Waist, hip, and neck circumference, and waist/hip ratio were 114 +/-14, 118 +/-12, 44 +/-4, and 0.96 +/-0.4 cm respectively. An apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) cutoff value of <15 was used to classify the patients as suffering from OSA: 15 patients (12 males, 3 females, age in years 55 +/-12, body mass index (BMI) kg/m(2) 37 +/-6, AHI 30 +/-12) were OSA and 12 patients were non OSA (2 males, 10 females, age in years 49 +/-20, BMI kg/m(2) 35 +/-2, AHI 3 +/-2). PaO2 and pH were lower and PaCO2 higher in OSA (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). Red blood cells (RBC), Hb, and neck circumference were increased in OSA (p<0.05). In OSA patients, S3%, S4% of total sleep time, SaO2% mean of nadir were reduced (p<0.001), and DEF increased (p<0.0001). In obese patients, AHI was correlated with neck circumference (r = 0.74, p<0.0001) and waist/hip ratio (r = 0.48. p<0.01). DEF was correlated with RBC, Hb, Htc% (r = 0.82, 0.71, 0.66, p<0.001). SaO2;% mean of nadir was significantly related to RBC, Hb, and Htc% (r = 0.44, 0.40, p<0.05, respectively). Our data showed a prevalence of OSA in 55% of the obese patients. A significant correlation exists between RBC, Hb, Htc%, with desaturation events frequency (DEF) and SaO2% of nadir indicating that transient, episodic desaturation during sleep is linked to a moderate increase of RBC and Hb found in obese patients with OSA, in contrast to obese, nonOSA patients. The most important result of the present study was the determination that classical symptoms and signs of OSA, such as male gender, neck circumference, waist/hip ratio, RBC, and Hb at the upper limit of normal, are simple inexpensive screening tools, and useful predictors of sleep-disordered breathing and discriminate the individuals with higher risk of OSA.

Surgical management of the distorted caudal septum.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article reviews the current trends in the surgical approach to the caudal septum, and its importance in rhinoplasty. The evolution of rhinoplasty techniques over the past half century has changed the emphasis from excessive cartilage resection, and a plethora of grafts and sutures, to a more conservative approach that seeks to maintain the function of the nose and create a naturally beautiful, 'not-operated' look. RECENT FINDINGS: New anatomical studies continue to shed light on the importance of soft-tissue support, and the mechanical properties of the caudal septum. When applied to surgical techniques, these new findings emphasize the principles of adequate preoperative history and examination, nasendoscopy, and facial analysis. On the basis of these clinical findings, a unique, tailor-made rhinoplasty game plan can be created for each patient that should not be used for another operation. Several techniques have emerged from the natural evolution of rhinoplasty that produce controlled, reversible effects in a predictable, stepwise manner. SUMMARY: The caudal septum plays a key role in nasal airflow, provides support for the nasal tip, and affects the alar-columellar relationship. Deviation at the caudal septum creates some of the commonest problems in aesthetic rhinoplasty.Through new anatomical knowledge and advances in rhinoplasty techniques, the vast majority of these problems can be approached through an endonasal/hybrid rhinoplasty approach. Hybrid rhinoplasty refers to a distillation of best of both worlds of external and endonasal surgery over the past 40 years.The key to a successful outcome relies on adequate clinical examination, nasendoscopy, detailed surgical facial analysis, and a well planned surgical game plan. VIDEO ABSTRACT: SDC 1 (http://links.lww.com/COOH/A9).

Anterior ethmoidal artery septal flap for the management of septal perforation.

OBJECTIVES: To achieve long-term closure of nasal septal perforations and to describe our surgical technique for repairing septal defects. METHODS: We describe 11 patients who underwent endoscopic repair of anterior septal perforations with a unilateral septal flap pedicled by the anterior ethmoidal artery. The patients were followed up for a period of 12 to 132 months (median follow-up, 51 months). RESULTS: There were no complications after surgery. All cases of septal perforation remained closed for the duration of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Closure of a perforated nasal septum through an endonasal technique can be achieved with a unilateral mucosal flap based on the anterior ethmoidal artery.

The infracartilaginous approach revisited.

The last decade has seen a marked increase in the use of the external approach for primary and secondary rhinoplasties. As a consequence, endonasal techniques are taught less and the external approach is increasingly being used for minor corrections. We review the infracartilaginous approach as an elegant variant of the endonasal approach and, for many procedures, a suitable alternative to the external approach and describe the technique of the infracartilaginous approach and illustrate its options with cases that, for the majority of rhinoplasty surgeons, would call for an external approach. We adopted the infracartilaginous approach as the preferred technique for most tip sculpting and repositioning procedures. The infracartilaginous approach is technically more challenging compared with the open approach in teaching situations. This, however, does not imply that the technique should therefore be abandoned. On the contrary, we are convinced that the technique can and should be taught and learned.

Rhinoplasty for the Mediterranean nose.

Homogenization of world culture through communications media, refinements in surgical techniques, and improved rhinoplasty results have resulted in a more extended dissemination of rhinoplasty among non-Caucasians. This request has led to increasingly anatomic, morphologic, and anthropometrical studies of the non-Caucasian nose upon which surgical techniques have been proposed and addressed to create in these patients nasal features typical of a Caucasian-looking nose. There are few reports in medical literature concerning rhinoplasty that specifically address particular Caucasian ethnic groups (Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Latin, and Slavic). Generally included within the Latin group are subjects presenting both paradigmatic nasal morphologies (typically, the classic "Greek," "Roman," and "French" noses) and important cultural differences that greatly influence the subjective perception of the defect and, therefore, the type of change requested. These challenging conditions require a highly "customized" approach, both in the phase of the preoperative planning and in the choice of surgical options. The authors, by means of a photographic analysis systematically used with all their rhinoplasty patients, have identified some archetypes of nasal pyramid configurations that are typical of the reference population (44% Northern Italy, 15% Central Italy, 41% Southern Italy) and, on the basis of a medium/long-term evaluation of the relationship between adopted surgical techniques and results, propose some surgical options that are specific for every nasal archetype. This categorization helps the surgeon carry out a structured preoperative aesthetical analysis and provides him/her with both an anticipation of what findings to expect and the ability to deal with already diagnosed problems. Every archetype shows strong similarities in terms of preoperative analysis, surgical solutions, and subjective perception of the success of the surgery. The surgical options used proved to be apt to modify some paradigmatic defects in a satisfactorily predictable way. Combining the different tesserae of this puzzle to reach the goal of a satisfied patient (and not necessarily a beautiful nose) makes rhinoplasty a true challenge that requires a special talent from the surgeon: combining analysis capabilities, surgical logic, and manual skills with artistic sensitivity.